Layten
Gerdes

SS/RHP Layten Gerdes (Fieldcrest, 2026) showed some prowess on both sides of the ball. 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with room to add on strength. Strong right-handed swing, creates extension through impact with easy bat-speed, whippy barrel through the zone that created a max EV of 92.9 mph, 312’ max distance. Gerdes then hopped on the bump and showed upside throughout his ‘pen. His fastball sat 83-84 mph with occasional arm-side run. He was able to toss both his curveball and his slider in for strikes, while completing his arsenal with a 77-78 mph changeup that displayed heavy arm-side fade (avg. 20.9” HM).

Gerdes reached in all three at-bats, topped by a hard-hit double that was backspun. Showed obvious barrel control with quick hands and an accelerating bat. The barrel stayed in the zone for a long time due to his on-plane swing. A definite player to keep an eye on out of central Illinois.

Gerdes reached in all three at-bats, topped by a hard-hit double that was backspun. Showed obvious barrel control with quick hands and an accelerating bat. The barrel stayed in the zone for a long time due to his on-plane swing. A definite player to keep an eye on out of central Illinois. 

Another freshman with an above-average frame was RHP/SS Layten Gerdes (Fieldcrest, 2026). The 6-foot, 175-pound athletic, strong, incoming sophomore showed upside on the mound and as a position player. On the mound he moves athletically with a loose, clean arm and present arm speed. His fastball played in the upper-70s, with more in the tank. He also spun a mid-60s curveball with 11/5 shape, intent and it averaged 12.9 inches of horizontal movement. Gerdes also featured a 10/4 slider with 12.7 inches of horizontal movement. Gerdes was just as intriguing with his right-handed bat that has athletic, fluid movement patterns, stays short to the baseball and consistently works to the middle of the field on a line. He also shows clean, steady hands on the infield and topped at 80 mph across.

Another freshman with an above-average frame was RHP/SS Layten Gerdes (Fieldcrest, 2026). The 6-foot, 175-pound athletic, strong, incoming sophomore showed upside on the mound and as a position player. On the mound he moves athletically with a loose, clean arm and present arm speed. His fastball played in the upper-70s, with more in the tank. He also spun a mid-60s curveball with 11/5 shape, intent and it averaged 12.9 inches of horizontal movement. Gerdes also featured a 10/4 slider with 12.7 inches of horizontal movement. Gerdes was just as intriguing with his right-handed bat that has athletic, fluid movement patterns, stays short to the baseball and consistently works to the middle of the field on a line. He also shows clean, steady hands on the infield and topped at 80 mph across.

Layten Gerdes, INF, Minonk (IL), 2026

Tall and skinny frame with athletic movements. From the right side, he has a tall setup in the box with active hands pre-pitch and uses a leg lift stride for timing. Consistently found barrels in his at-bats and hits the ball to all fields. Also shows discipline at the plate and the ability to not chase pitches out of the zone. Defensively, he is rangy for a 3rd baseman and has clean actions when fielding the ball paired with a strong arm to make throws across the diamond. Gerdes was 1-3 with an RBI double and a walk against GRB Rays MKE Green.